Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, left, scores his side’s opening goal with a free kick during a Champions League’s qualifier first leg soccer match between 1899 Hoffenheim and FC Liverpool, in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena, in Sinsheim, Germany, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017. (Michael Probst/Associated Press)In the absence of unsettled playmaker Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool turned to an 18-year-old right back making his European debut for some set-piece magic in its Champions League playoff win against Hoffenheim on Tuesday. Hoffenheim is in unknown territory after reaching the Champions League playoffs courtesy of a fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga under Julian Nagelsmann, its 30-year-old coach. This is the fourth time Qarabag has made it into Champions League qualifying, though the team has never progressed beyond the third round. ___APOEL NICOSIA 2, SLAVIA PRAGUE 0Former Champions League quarterfinalist APOEL is within touching distance of a return to the competition after goals by Igor De Camargo and Stathis Aloneftis in the first 10 minutes.

Source: Washington Post August 15, 2017 18:15 UTC